Everybody loves a bright white smile. Ford Family Dental offers a variety of teeth whitening products and procedures to enhance your smile’s brilliance.
Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and regular cleanings at the dentist’s office. However, if you decide you would like to go beyond regular care to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.
Schedule a visit with your dentist to learn whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners do not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will probably bleach well, brownish teeth may not as well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you do have other options, such as porcelain veneers.
When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance – your assurance that a product has met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
Professional teeth whitening by your doctor is your best choice when you need immediate whitening results. We currently offer Zoom! Whitening by Philips Sonicare, a fast and effective way to boost your teeth up to 8 shades whiter in just one treatment. During your hour and a half whitening treatment, we apply a protective gel to your gums to shield them from the whitening gel. The whitening gel is then applied to the teeth and an LED light is used to enhance the results. After three 15-minute applications, a desensitizer is applied and the area is cleaned so you can be on your way! Whitening of your teeth may continue to take place hours or even days after your appointment.
There are a few products available for use at home that can either be dispensed by your doctor or purchased over the counter. They are generally teeth whitening trays (mouthguards) or strips.
We can fabricate a custom-fitted retainer in our office for you to wear with bleaching gel also provided by the office. Depending on your level of sensitivity or how many shades brighter you’d like to go, the time and strength of the gel may vary. Some products are used for 30 minutes while some strengths can be worn for multiple hours. Take-home whitening trays are a great way to maintain your level of whiteness after having an in-office treatment done.
Teeth whitening strips are thin, flexible plastic (polyethylene) strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide bleaching on one side. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The bleaching agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips into place to ensure contact with all your teeth. Teeth whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will vary.
Teeth whitening can have minor side effects and you should speak with your doctor if these become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In most cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation, either from a tray that doesn’t fit properly or from a solution that may come in contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with the doctor.
All toothpaste helps remove surface stain from your teeth through the action of mild abrasives. “Whitening” toothpaste in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program has special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.
The benefits of teeth whitening go much deeper than having white teeth. Professional teeth whitening treatments empower our clients to look and feel their best every time they flash a smile! Get in touch with our Dublin, OH office today to schedule your appointment.
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